Student in South Lyon school threat ordered for trial

A court appearance for a Green Oak Township man charged with making a false terrorist threat against South Lyon High School was a mixed bag for him Thursday.

Ryan DeBruyne, 18, was bound over for trial on the felony charge. But 52-1 District Judge Travis Reeds also ordered a bond reduction from $10 million to $100,000 cash/surety 10 percent. That should allow DeBruyne, held in the Oakland County Jail since his arraignment Feb. 20, to be released on a tether with other conditions.

The courtroom was again packed with family and a large group of DeBruyne's South Lyon High School classmates. The witnesses testifying at the hearing also included classmates who had reported threats made on social media to re-enact the high school shooting in Parkland, Fla., which had happened only days earlier.

Two classmates testified that DeBruyne had been posting social media comments about being suicidal, angry and lonely prior to the posts suggesting violence against the high school. Fisher Wilkes, 17, described DeBruyne as a close friend and said a Snapchat message, "Do you want to recreate the Florida shooting on Wednesday?" from him was upsetting.

"I was concerned because of his mental health. It was out of the blue," said Wilkes, who talked with another classmate who received a similar message from DeBruyne about the situation and, subsequently, with an adult co-worker at a local car wash, as well as his girlfriend.

It was the adult co-worker who approached an Oakland County Sheriff's deputy, who was using the car wash. Wilkes talked with the deputy and that triggered an investigation that resulted in DeBruyne being charged with one count of making a false terrorist threat.

When messaging in Snapchat, Wilkes said when one of their circle made a post that was a joke, it would be followed by a message indicating that. No such message followed, he said.

Instead, Wilkes said DeBruyne responded with a question about why Wilkes didn't want to participate. Later, DeBruyne sent a message questioning what Wilkes was doing at the police station, Wilkes said.

During the lengthy hearing, defense attorney Scott Grabel tried to question Wilkes about his motives for reporting the threatening message, mentioning a girlfriend and commenting on the fact that Wilkes had legal representation.

"It's inappropriate of you to keep mentioning that (Wilkes) has retained an attorney. Anyone can retain a lawyer — your client retained a lawyer," Reeds said.

With DeBruyne charged with making a false terrorist threat, Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Kelly Collins said the reason someone reported the threat wasn't relevant.

Grabel also tried to argue that among the teens' Snapchat group, comments about school shootings and 9-1-1 plane hijackings were commonly made in a joking fashion, which reduced the potential for the comments to be taken seriously. Under closing arguments, Grabel effectively conceded that DeBruyne made the school shooting statements, but referenced a First Amendment defense.

South Lyon Police Sgt. Doug Bakki testified that during an interview with DeBruyne at his home, the student admitted making the comments on social media, was apologetic and commented that he would never have acted on the threats.

Reeds objected to the defense characterizing jokes about mass murder as "locker room talk," adding it wasn't funny, particularly coming only days after 17 people were killed in Parkland.

Collins argued that the required probable cause — that the terrorist threat was communicated to another person — to bind DeBruyne over for trial had been exceeded with the testimony of the two classmates and the defendant's own admission that he messaged a chat group of approximately 30 people.

"The recipients of the message gave the statements meaning. Let's not lose focus — the speaker's intent is the key," Grabel said.

The elements of the making a false threat charge are fairly simple, Reeds said, making a threat communicated to others with lack of intent to carry out the threat not being a defense.

Ordering the bind-over for trial, Reeds noted DeBruyne asked his friend to participate in a shooting, questioned why the friend had refused, never indicated he was joking in his posts and was very specific in the threat Feb. 18 when classes resumed after mid-winter break. DeBruyne also turned 18 on Feb. 18.

Along with the bond and GPS tether, other bond conditions for DeBruyne include banning him from a school property, allowing him to travel from home only to work, counseling and meetings with his attorneys and that he begin ongoing counseling within seven days or face bond revocation. Reeds did order that DeBruyne could speak with friends who attend South Lyon High School, but isn't allowed access to cellphones, computers and social media.

DeBruyne is scheduled March 29 for Oakland County Circuit Court arraignment. If convicted, the charge of making a false terrorist threat would carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Contact LeAnne Rogers at lrogers@hometownlife.com or 734-883-9039. Follow her on Twitter: @LRogersObserver.